The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-06
THE DILLON LIBEL.

The Commons Decides that a Breach of
Privilege Has Not Been Committed.
LONDON, May 5.-Mr. Gladstone, in the House
of Commons, this evening, moved amend
merit that select committee be appointed to
INQUIRE into the charge of willful falsehood
made against Mr.. John Dillon in an article pub
lished in the Times last Monday. He did not,
in moving this amendment, he said, intend to
suggest that the inquiry should go beyond the
article in question 1t particularly
fortunate that the government should have pro-
posed their present course against Irish
member of Parliament while they
engaged in inficting upon the peo-
pie of Ireland, by the enactment of
permanent coercion bill. brand of perpetual
dshonor. If Mr. Dillon's case were taken into
the law courts it would be very uncertain wheth-
he could get verdict, whatever might be the
proof in the case, since Parliament had declared
that the charges against Mr.. Dillon did not con-
stitute breach of privilege The House. Mr..
Gladstone declared perfectly competent
and, in fact. the only competent tribunal to ad-
judge the charges and in support of this position
he cited large number and variety of prece-
dents. He appealed to the government to re-
cede from their determination, which, if per-
sisted in, might lead to a crisis of momentous
consequences.
Sir r. E. Webster. Attorney general. admitted
that the argument of Mr.. Gladstone was forci-
bic one. but said that it had not spoken the
opinion, held by the law officers of the crown,
that the House was not competent to deal with
the question. The House had taken
cognizance of charge of fasehood against one
of its members as a matter demanding its inter-
ference. He hoped the House would affirm the
course proposed by the government as the most
honorable and adequate method of disposIng of
the matter, and reiterated the decision of the
government that a court of law the proper
place to try the charges.
No rising to further debate the motion
offered by Mr.. Lewis declaring the Times's pub
1ication breach of parliamentary privilege, the
Speaker put the question on Sir Edward Clark's
amendment that no breach of privilege had been
committed. The Parnellite members challenged
a division which resulted in a vote of 297 for the
amendment and 219 against 1.-THE amendment
thus becoming the substantive of the motion.
Mr.. Childers taunted the Attorney general
with having ignored Gladstone's argument and
precedents Parliament, he said, had never or
dered prosecution in a court of law without
declaring the character of the ofense commit
ted.
The small majority of Sir Edward Clark's
amendment due to the absence of many of
the Conservative and Unionist members.
Messrs. Buchanan. Grove, Talbot Winterboth-
am and Vivian, Unionists. voted with the mi
nority, and now classed as Gladstonians.
The standard Conservative organ. summing
up the debate on the Dillon against the
Times for breach of privilege of the House of
Commons. declares that Mr. Gladstones motion
was the only correct and just solution. The
tactics of the government in seeking to protect
an outsider against the consequences Of a breach
OF privilege, are conOefrneO anu tue proposals
to prosecute described as unsatisfactory. The
Liberal press, with scarcely exception, pro-
test against a distinction being made in this
csse because the offender happens to be a pow
slrfgs nevspspsr that supports the government.
The Times praises the government for refusing
committee, and insists that such q
bcdy would be too limited TO deal with
the issues arising out Of its charges against Dill
Ion. Mr.. Dillon is again defed and invited to
try the effect of appeal to the law courts, the
only place where a full inquiry could possibly be
made.
Mr. Parnell has completed the investigation of
his papers relating to the Phoenix Park murders,
and will probably place them in the hands of Mr..
Gladstone tomorrow Saturday His case is,
conclusive evidence that the Times letter a
forgery. and that the editor of the Times might
have satisfied himself that such was the fact,
had he felt iisposed to do So